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Flounder
Definitions
- 1 A European species of flatfish having dull brown colouring with reddish-brown blotches; fluke, European flounder (Platichthys flesus).
"Water Souchy. Eels, whitings, soles, flounders, and mackerel are generally used. Stew it in clear fish stock, until done, eight minutes will be enough; add cayenne, catsup, an anchovy, and any other flavouring ingredient; let it boil up, skim, and serve hot altogether in a tureen."
- 2 any of various European and non-European marine flatfish wordnet
- 3 Any of various flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae or Bothidae. Canada, US
"Blackfishing from the beach. I've done my research. Hundreds of shipwrecks line the Jersey coast, and many of them are close enough to reach with a long cast on a dead-low tide. These wrecks hold tautog, porgies, sea bass, flounder."
- 4 flesh of any of various American and European flatfish wordnet
- 5 A bootmaker's tool for crimping boot fronts.
- 1 To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered. intransitive
"He gave a good speech, but floundered when audience members asked questions he could not answer well."
- 2 walk with great difficulty wordnet
- 3 To flop around as a fish out of water. intransitive
- 4 behave awkwardly; have difficulties wordnet
- 5 To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance. intransitive
"Robert yanked Connie's leg vigorously, causing her to flounder and eventually fall."
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- 6 To be in serious difficulty.
"Meanwhile bus and tram competition was causing the Central London Railway to flounder after its early success, and as for the City & South London ... that had always floundered."
Etymology
From Middle English flowndre, from Anglo-Norman floundre, from Old Northern French flondre, from Old Norse flyðra, from Proto-Germanic *flunþrijǭ. Cognate with Danish flynder, German Flunder, Swedish flundra.
Possibly from the noun. Probably a blend of flounce + founder or a blend of founder + blunder or from Dutch flodderen (“wade”). See other terms beginning with fl, such as flutter, flitter, float, flap, flub, flip.
See also for "flounder"
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